Carnage on the way to dream holiday; TRAGIC FRIENDS ARE KILLED INSTANTLY IN HEAD-ON COLLISION.

Byline: PAT FLANAGAN 

TWO young men were killed in a horror car smash yesterday as they made their way to catch a flight for a family break in Amsterdam.

Brendan Donnelly, 24, and 26-year-old Lee Salkeld, who were with their partners, died instantly when a Ford Mondeo collided head on with their Volkswagen Polo.

One of the men had just bought a new house while the other was celebrating the birth of a new baby just five months ago.

They were due to catch the 7am flight from Cork to Amsterdam where they had organised a four-day break. The accident happened on the N25 at Caherulton, Castlemartyr, Co Cork, at around 2.45am yesterday.

The driver of the Mondeo, who was travelling alone towards Castlemartyr,was arrested later at Ballinacurra, Midleton, in connection with the crash.

Rescue workers arrived to find scene of utter carnage and had to cut the top off the Polo to get at the victims who were still trapped in the mangled wreckage.

The Volkswagen was being driven by one of the women who was taken to Cork University Hospital along with her friend.

The men's bodies were also taken to the same hospital for postmortems.

It is understood the men were sitting in the front and rear seats on the left hand side which took most of force of the impact. Their partners' injuries are not thought to be life threatening but they are both suffering from shock. A hospital spokesman described their condition as stable.

Mr Donnelly was originally from Birr, Co Offaly, but was living at Beech Drive, Greenfields, Waterford. He will be buried in his hometown later this week.

Mr Salkeld, was the father of a young child with an address at Fairfield Park, Old Tramore Road, Co Waterford.

East Cork TD, David Stanton said the heart of the entire community in the area went out to the families of those involved.

He added: "They were so young and to think they were going on holidays when this happened makes it even more poignant. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families. It is so sad."

Father Sean Melody, parish priest of the local Sacred Heart church, described the crash as an unspeakable tragedy.

He said: "People are shocked by the reality of any accident like that happening to young people as they leave to go away for a few relaxing days.

"Everybody's heart goes out to the families, but sadly nobody can put back the clock. No parent ever forgets an experience like this."

A stretch of the N25 near Caherulton was closed for most of yesterday to allow Garda crash scene experts to inspect the scene.

Garda Supt Flor Horan confirmed a local man in his 20s was detained and questioned at Midleton Garda station under the Criminal Justice Act yesterday. He was released last night. A garda spokeswoman said: "A file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions."

Supt Horan said: "We are trying to piece together what happened.

"We would like to appeal to witnesses who were on that road at around 2.45am and who may have seen the Mondeo travelling from Midleton to Castlemartyr or the Volkswagen Polo travelling from Castlemartyr to Midleton either prior to the accident or who may have witnessed the accident to contact us here in Midleton."

Witnesses are asked to contact officers at Midleton on 021 4621550. They can also call the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

CAPTION(S):

THE POLO Car pals died in is totally destroyed. Firefighters had to cut off roof THE MONDEO Wreckage of car in Co Cork yesterday